Leg assembly for coil lifters



April 23, 1963 L. G. KAPLAN 3,086,808

LEG ASSEMBLY FOR COIL LIFTERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 3, 1960 [ilu 83 121,31 :26 a INVENTQR 88 +2, 76 -r* Louls G. APLAN April 23, 1963 G. KAPLAN 3,086,308

LEG ASSEMBLY FOR COIL LIFTEIRS Filed Nov. 5, 1960 2 Sheets-Shea?I 2 WW1 54A Airy.

ite it@ The present invention relates generally to sheet and coil litters of the type which are employed for lifting, moving, transporting 4or otherwise handling relatively heavy stacks of flat sheet metal stock or, alternatively, relatively massive involute sheet metal coils. Such -lifters are commonly employed at the steel mill for loading purposes and at consumer locations where the sheets or coils are distributed throughout the plant for fabrication purposes.

Lifters `of the character with which the present invention is concerned conventionally are comprised of two series of jointed leg assemblies which are hinged at their upper ends to the opposite sides of a supporting structure. In the case of a sheet lifter, the lower ends of the arms carry angle irons which have opposed inwardly projecting flanges adapted to engage under a ystack of sheets for supporting it. "ln the case :of a coil lifter, the lower ends of the arms carry opposed inwardly projecting lingers adapted to enter the opposite ends yof the central bore in the spoollike structure. The Asupporting structure carries means for closing and opening the jaws afforded by the opposed relatively movable leg structures to thus engage and disengage the load. The entire lifter mechanism is adapted to be suspended bodily from an overhead hoist or crane.

Lifters `of the character brieiiy outlined above may be provided with leg constructions specilically designed for handling stacks of sheet metal or they may be designed for handling sheet lmetal coils. Leg constructions for lifters have also been designed which will handle both types of loads as evidenced by the patent to Hooker et al., No. 2,841,434, dated July l, 1958, for Auxiliary Coil Lifting Devices for the laws of a Sheet Lifter. Dual purpose lifters of the character disclosed in the Hooker et al. patent are possessed of certain limitations in use and the present invention is designed as an improvement over the lifter disclosed in such patent in that it affords a dual leg construction for such litters which not only will handle both sheets and coils in a manner more eiciently than` has heretofore been possible, but which also will extend the usefulness of lifters of this type and enable the' same to perform services which cannot be performed by present day lifters including the lifter shown in `the Hooker et al. patent.

Situations frequently arise in connection with the handling of coils wherein it is necessary to pick up a seriesof horizontally disposed coils which are arranged on the iloor in rows of axially aligned, spaced coils providing aisles within which Ithe jaw legs may operate in moving into coil-engaging positions, to place the coils on platforms or pallets, and then pick up the coil-loaded pallets for transportation to a remote location. In situations of this character, two problems are involved. In the first place, it frequently happens that where floor space is limited, the aisles cannot be made wide enough to accommodate proper movement of the lifter jaw legs so that the' coil-engaging lingers may be caused to enter 'the coil bores at the ropposite ends of the coils. Secondly, a lifter which will accommodate the hoisting of a coil has -no provision for hoisting a coil-loaded pallet so that the job must be performed using first a lifter having coil-lifting jaws so that the coils may be loaded on the pallet and then using a second lifter having pallet-lifting jaws so that the coilladened pallet may be lifted and transported to the remote location. Lifters of the type shown and described Patented Apr. 23, 1963 in the yabove-mentioned Hooker et al. patent are incapable. of performing the necessary functions for pallet-loading and transporting operations, especially where aisle space is limited. Movement of the jaws, when set for coil-lifting purposes to a position wherein they are sufficiently spaced apart to permit straddling of a coil length-wise of the coil, will frequently be prevented by interference with an adjacent coil on the opposite side of 'an aisle from the coil to be lifted. Even when aisle space presents no problem, the full effective length of the coil-engaging lingers associated with the lifter jaws is not available for coillifting purposes due to the interference offered by the sheet or pallet-lifting flanges of the jaws.

The present invention is designed as an improvement over the dual purpose lifter of the Hooker et al. patent and over other similar litters -in that it is designed to overcome the above-noted limitation that is attendant upon the use of such lifters. Lifters embodying the leg construction of the present invention are able to place sheet metal coils on 1pallets and to transport the pallets to remote locations -at a scene `of operation where -oor space is extremely limited so that the coil aisles are necessarily narrow. Furthermore, llitters having the present leg construction may also be employed for either sheet or coillifting purposes, as well `as for a wide variety of other uses hitherto incapable of being performed by conventional litters.

While in the accompanying drawings and throughout this specication the improved lifter leg construction of the present invention has been disclosed and described in connection with -a lifter construction of the swinging jaw type as outlined above, it is to be distinctly understood that the invention may, with or without suitable modification,- be adapted for use in connection with lifters of the type which employ telescopic jaws which are horizontally slidable or otherwise movable toward and away from each lother for sheet or coil-engaging purposes. irrespective however of the particular type of lifter assembly with which the present leg or jaw construction may be associated, the essential features of the invention are at all times preserved.

The provision of a dual purpose lifter leg construction which will accomplish the aims outlined above being among the principal objects of the present invention, it is a further and more specific object to provide a lifter leg assembly which is entirely self-contained, which is to say that it may be converted from its coil-handling to its pallet or sheet-handling condition and vice versa without requiring the addition, 'subtraction or interchange of parts, and without requiring the use of tools.

Another object of the invention in a lifter leg construction of this sort is to provide a novel form of retractible coil-engaging finger, as well as a retractible sheet or pallet-engaging nange, both of which may, by proper manipulation of the hoisting crane and lifter mechanism, be caused to become retracted automatically without requiring the attention of an auxiliary operator. Automatic retraction ofthe sheet or pallet-engaging ange may be effected while bringing the lifter into operative coilengaging position, while automatic retraction of the coilengaging ringer may be effected while working in close quarters to enable a coil to be engaged without interference by adjacent coils. Automatic retraction of the coil-engaging linger may also be effected for coil-releasing purposes as will be described in detail presently.

The provision of a lifter leg construction which is capable of being manufactured as original equipment in connection with a given lifter assembly, or which alternatively may be applied to existing lifter assemblies of either the swinging jaw or telescopic jaw type; one which is comprised of a minimum number of parts, particularly moving parts, and which therefore is unlikely to get out of order;

one `which -is rugged and durable and which therefore will withstand rough usage; and one which otherwise is well adapted to perform the services required of it, are further desirable features which have lbeen borne in mind in the production and development Vof the present invention.

With-these-and other-objects in view which will become readily apparentes the following description ensues, the invention yconsists of the novel construction, combination andarrang'emen-t of parts'shown in the accompanying two sheets Aof vdrawings forming a part of this specification.

l'nthese drawings:

:FIG 1 is` anend elevational view, somewhat schematic in its representation, of a lifter assembly embodying the leg construction of the .present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational View of a portion of the structure shown in FIG. l;

FIG. 3 Vis a sectional view taken substantially along theli'ne 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 4 4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary front elevational view of a portion ofthe structure shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6`is a fragmentary schematic side elevational view illustrating-certain principles of operation made possible by the leg'construction of the present invention when put to aspeciiic use;

. FIG. 7 is a 'sectional View similar to FIG. 3 showing a modied form `of the invention; and

FIG. 8 is an electrical circuit diagram employed inY connection with the form of the invention shown in FIG. 7.

Referring now to the drawings in detail and in particulartoy FIG. l, there has been disclosed in this view a lifter mechanism designated in its entirety at 16, and including a supporting structure 12 from the opposite sides of which there are suspended a pair of jointed jaw structures 14 and 16 respectively. lhe two jaw structures 14`and 16 are substantially 'identical in construction, one being a-complement of the other, and therefore a description of one of these structures will suice for the other. The supporting structure 12 carries a cross pin 17 by means of which the entire assembly may be hoisted and transported from place to place, utilizing the suspension'hook 19 of an overhead crane. Each jaw structure 14 or 16, as the case may be, involves in its general organization a composite outer suspension link assembly 18 and a similar composite inner suspension link assembly 20. The suspension link assembly 18 is pivoted by means of a pin 22 to the 'supporting structure 12. for swinging movement about a horizontal axis while the suspension link assembly 2t) is similarly pivoted by means of a pin 24 to the supporting structure at a region spaced slightly inwards and below the axis aorded by the pin 22. The two link assemblies 18 and 29, which hereinafter will be referred to simply as links, extend in parallelism and the lower ends therefore are pivoted by vmeans of pins 26 and 28 to an enlargement 30 provided at the upper end of a composite leg assemblyv constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention, the leg assembly for the jaw structure 14 beingdesignated at 32 and the assembly for the jaw structure 16 being designated at 34.

Opening and closing movements-of the -jaw struc-tures 14 and 16 may be effected in various ways, either by hand or under the motivating influence of an electric tmotor. For exemplary purposes, opening and closing movements of the jaw structures 14 and 16 may be elfected under the control of a horizontal rock shaft 40 mounted on the supporting structure I2 and having associated therewith radial arms `42 and 44, the outer ends of ,which are pivoted to spring loaded link devices 46 and 48 respectively which, in turn, have their outer ends pivoted by means of pins 50 and 52 .tothe medial regions of the outer links 18. The rock shaft 4t) constitutes the motivating element of the rjaw-opening and closing mechanism and it may be operated in any suitable manner, either by a hand wheel operating through a suitable gear reduction device, or by an electric motor similarly and operatively connected thereto.

The two leg assemblies which form the subject matter of the present invention are substantially identical in their design and construction and therefore a description of the assembly 32 will suffice for the assembly 34. The assembly 32 involves in its general organization an elongated open frame-like structure including spaced apart side plates 54 and 56 connected together and maintained in their spaced relationship by means of transverse bars 58 and 60 (FIG. 2) as well as by the pins Y26 and 28 which have associated therewith bushings 62 and spacer sleeves 64 extending between the plates 54 and-56. Additional plates 66 and `68 are welded in position along the edges of the 'plates 54 and 56 as shown in FIGS.3 and 6.

At the lower end of the leg assembly 82, a pair of plates 78 extend horizontally outwardly from the sides of the plates 54 and 56 respectively and these plates are supported at their outer ends by means of inclined struts 72. Vertical end plates '74 .project downwardly from the outer ends of the plates 70l and have their lower ends connected together by means of a stop plate 76, the function of which will be made clear presently.

Extending through the end plates 74 and through the plates 54 and S6 and supported thereby is a horizontal rock shaft 78 which may either be fixed or mounted for free turning movemenrt in the various plates in which it is supported. The rock shaft 78 has tiltably mounted thereon three load-engaging assemblies or devices incluiding two identical foot members 80 adjacent the end regions of the shaft, and a central coil-engaging linger assembly 82. The foot members S0 are disposed between the end plates 74 and fthe adjacent side plates 54 or 56 as the case may be. The linger assembly 82 is disposedbetween the two side plates 54 and 56.

As best-seen in FIG. 4, each foot member-80 may as-v sume the form of a casting including a body portion 84 from the lower edge of which there projects laterally in one 'direction a supporting llange 86 adapted when the jaws are closed upon each other to underlie a stack of flat sheet metal stock, an article-supporting pallet, or any other suitable load. A pair of ears 88 Vproject laterally in the other direction from the-opposite ends of the body portion 84 and are provided with central bores 96 therethrough by means of which the foot member as a whole may tiltably be supported on the rock shaft 78. Thebody portion 84 is formed with arcentral hole 912 therethrough fora purpose that will be set forth presently. The foot members 80 are each independently movable between the operative lowered advanced position illustrated in dotted lines in FIG. 4, and the'inoperative raised retracted position shown in full lines in this view. In the dotted line operative position of the foot members Sti/the supporting anges 86 extend horizontally for load-lifting purposes while the outer side of the body portion'8`4 engages the inner edge of the stop plate 76, the stop plate thus serving as a reaction abutment or limit memberto maintain the foot member 80 in its operative position. The two foot members 80 are independently movable between their operative and inoperative` positions. Y

Still referring 'to FIG. 4, in the full line inoperative retracted position of the foot members 80, the supporting flange Y86 extends vertically and the holes 92 aredesigned for registry with the lower ends Vof respective latch members orpins 100 which are vertically slidable in` sleeves 102 welded to the inclined struts 72. 'Ihe latch pins 100 are normally urged toward their advancedY lowered latching positions by means of coil springs 104 which bearat their opposite ends against opposed shouldersr106 and 108 provided ,on `the .sleeves and pins respectively. Pin and slot connections `lll'ebetween'the latch pins and sleeves prevent turning of the pins within the sleeves. The extreme lower end regions of the latch pins 100 are formed with inclined cam surfaces 112 which are engageable with the body portions 84 of the foot member S0 as the latter approach their retracted positions so that the latch pins may be automatically retracted in the usual manner of latch operation prior to entry of the latch pins into the holes 92. Each latch pin is provided with a manipulating handle or lever 114 by means of which the latch pin may be manually moved to its retracted position when desired.

Referring now to FlGS. 2, 3 and 5, the pivoted coilengaging finger asernbly 82 may be in the form of a casting or it may be fashioned as a composite welded assembly involving individual parts. It includes a body portion 126 from the upper edge of which there projects laterally in one direction a supporting finger proper 122. As best seen in FIG. 5, the upper surface of the finger 122 is curved to provide a saddle-like surface which will accommodate the curvature of the bore provided in a coil such as the coil C shown in FIG. 6. An inclined brace member or plate 124 extends between the body portion 120 and the distal edge 0f the iinger 122. A pair of ears 126 project laterally in the other direction from the opposite ends of the body portion 120 and are provided with central bores 12S therethrough by means of which the finger assembly as a whole may be tiltably supported on the rock shaft 78. The inclined plate 124 is formed with a hole 130 therein designed for cooperation with a latch pin 132 similar to the latch pins 160. The latch pin 132 is vertically slidable in the two transverse bars 58 and 60 and it is normally urged towards its lowered advanced position by means of a coil spring 134 which bears at its upper end against the transverse bar 60 and at its lower end against an upwardly facing shoulder 136 provided on the latch pin 132. An upstanding post 138 is formed with a vertical slot 140 therein and a guide pin 142 carried by the latch pin 132 projects into the slot and is slidable therein. The pin and slot connection 140, 142 just described serves to limit the extreme positions of the latch pin, as well as to prevent turning movement of the latter. A manipulating handle or lever 144 is carried by the latch pin 132 and may be employed to withdraw the lower end of the latch finger pin from the hole 130 and thus release the coilengaging finger assembly from its latched position. The extreme lower end region of the latch pin 132 is formed with an inclined cam surface 146 which is engageable with the outer regions of the cam finger 122 as the finger assembly approaches its retracted position so that the latch pin may be retracted automatically in the usual manner of latch operation immediately prior to entry of the latch pin into the hole 13b.

In the operation of the lifter Eassembly 10, when it is desired to use the lifter legs 32 and 34 in connection with the handling of a stack of metallic sheets, for lifting a pallet or the like, or for engaging the side margins of any flat sided article to be handled, the two foot assemblies 30 are caused to assume their lowered operative positions as shown in FIG. 4 wherein the load-supporting flanges 86 extend horizontally and bear against the stop plate 76. The rock shaft 40 is operated to cause the lifter jaws 14 and 16 to separate to such an extent that the opposed inside edges of the flanges S6 will clear the sides of the object to be handled. The lifter is then manipulated to bring the leg assemblies 32 and 34 into straddled relation relative to the load and thereafter the lifter jaws are closed upon each other so that the body portions 34 of the foot members 86' are brought into gripping relation with the load with the supporting flanges 86 underlying the side margins of the load. Finally, the lifter assembly may be hoisted and transported to the desired location after which the operation may be reversed to release the load.

When it is desired to utilize the lifter in connection with the handling of a coil such as the coil C, the foot members are moved to their retracted positions and latched in such positions by means of the latch pins 10i) while the coil-engaging finger assemblies 82 are released by the latch pins 132 nad moved to their lowered operative positions as shown in FIG. 3. Thereafter the lifter jaws are brought into straddled relation with the ends of the coil and with the finger assemblies in substantial axial alignment with the central bore provided in the coil. Thereafter the jaws are closed upon each other 'and the linger assemblies are caused to enter the opposite ends of the bore so that the curved saddle surfaces 122 thereof will underlie the upper end portions of the coil. With the saddle surfaces 122 thus positioned, upon hoisting of the lifting assembly, the coil C will be engaged and elevated from the supporting surface vfor transportation toa desired location.

The above description of the operation of the improved lifter leg construction of the present invention is applicable in instances where ample operating space is available for manipulation of the lifter assembly 10 without interference from adjacent objects such as building walls, supporting posts or columns, machinery or other equipment, or stacks of sheets or coils awaiting handling. Where floor space is limited, as for example where an aisle space is so narrow that the lifter jaws may not be extended with the coil-engaging finger assemblies 82 in their lowered operative positions, it is possible to cause the jaw assemblies to straddle the coil with the framework of the leg assemblies 32 and 34 in close proximity to the ends of the coil by moving the coil-engaging assemblies 82 to their inoperative latched positions. Upon lowering of the lifter the two assemblies 82 may be brought into register with the open ends of the coil bore where they are free to be swung inwardly into the interior of the bore for subsequent coil-lifting purposes.

Alternatively, the distance between the leg assemblies 32 and 34 may be adjusted so that it is slightly greater than the axial extent of the extent of the coil while the coil-engaging assemblies are allowed to remain in their lowered operative positions. Upon lowering the lifter 4so that the two leg assemblies straddle the ends of the coil, the inclined underneath brace plates 124 will engage the upper rims of the coil as shown in FIG. 6 in full lines and, upon continued lowering of the lifter, the brace plate will effect camming engagement with the coil and cause the coil-engaging assemblies 82 to swing upwardly toward their retracted positions las shown in dotted lines in this View. As soon as the brace plates 124 have cleared the rims of the coils, the coil-engaging assemblies S2 will fall by gravity into position within the coil bore and assume the position shown in broken lines in this view. If the distance between the leg `assemblies 32 and 34 be adjusted so that it approximates the axial of the coil, such lowering of the leg assemblies in their straddling relationship relative to the coil ends may cause the coil-engaging assemblies to automatically become latched, in which case, after the lifter has been lowered to bring the assemblies into register with the open-ended coil bore, the assemblies may be manually released by manipulation of the levers 144.

From the above description it will be appreciated that lifter assemblies embodying the novel leg construction of the present invention will be found particularly useful in connection with pallet loading operations Where a series of coils, arranged in rows so as to provide clearance aisles, kare to be loaded upon pallets and thereafter the load pallets are to be transported. With the coil-engaging assemblies in their advanced positions, and with the pallet-engaging assemblies in their latched retracted positions, the coils may be loaded upon the pallets by lifter manipulations such as have previously been described. With the positions of the coil and pallet-engaging assemblies rreversed, the loaded pallets may be engaged and transported.

It will also be appreciated that, by theA use of the lifter leg assembly of lthe present invention, adjacent rows of coils to betransp'orted maybe positioned closer together than with conventional lifter leg assemblies or, in other words, the aisles between rows may be -made appreciably narrower. Obviously, a saving in aisle space will'result inan increase in the number of coils which may be set up for transportation in a given floor larea. The saving in oor space is appreciable when it is considered that door areas one thousand feet in length are not uncommon in large steel mill operations =and, since by the use of the present lifter leg construction a 15% saving in iloor space can be attained, the additional coils capable of being handled may well bea factor which obviates the necessity of erecting an additional building.

'In FIG. 7 a modied form of latch mechanism has been disclosed for retaining the coil-engaging nger assembly 82 in its `latched inoperative position. In the disclosure of FIG.V 7 the various parts of the lifter leg assembly remain substantially the same as in FIG. 3 except for provision of solenoid-actuated latch assemblies by means of which the latch pins 132 may be actuated. To avoid needless repetition of description, identical reference numerals have been applied to the corresponding parts in FIGS. 3 and 7. The latch pin 132 in each instance remains substantially the same as the latch pin described in connection with the manually operable latch pin of FIG. 3 and the operating handle 144 may remain associated with the pin for use in the event of solenoid or other electrical failure. The upper end of the latch pin 132 is slotted as at 150 to receive the lower end of a vertically shiftable solenoid core or plunger 152, the latter being slidable in the usual manner within the central bore of a solenoid winding 154 which may be secured to a bracket 156 aixed to the plate 66. It is contemplated that the solenoid lead-in wires 160 and 162 may-extend to the cab of the overhead crane or other hoist (not shown) where Vthe operator by depressing a control button or the like may have control over the operation of the solenoid.

By thus Vemploying solenoid-actu-ated latch devices for the twoicoil-engaging linger assemblies, the versatility of the lifter assembly may be materially enhanced. For example, referring again to FIG. 6, in an instance where a series of coils arranged in rows separated by aisles las previously described are to be transported, 'the entireV operation may be effected under the control of a single operator Yin the crane cab without necessitating his leaving his station or relying upon outside assistance. With the lifter jaws adjusted to only a slightly greater spacing than the length of each coil to be lifted from the floor, the jaws may be brought into straddling relation with respect tothe coil as previously described and, as thel jaws are caused to descend from their full line position the previously described automatic latching of the coilengaging linger assemblies occasioned by contact thereof with the top edge of the coil C will take place. After the jaws have been lowered to such an extent -that the coil-engaging assemblies 82 move into horizontal register with the central bore in the coil, the operator in the cab will release the assemblies by energizing the solenoid coils 154 and causing the latch pins 132 to be moved upwardly, whereupon the lassemblies S2, which 'in their inoperative positions possess a degree of unstable equilibrium, will move under 'the influence of gravity to the broken line positions shown in IFIG. 6. Immediately thereafter the lifter may be raisedand the coil C thus picked -up by the lingers proper 122 for transportation to the remote location.

At the desired terminal location for the coil C the lifter will be lowered to position the coil upon the floor, after which, continued lowering movement of the lifter Will cause the freely pivoted coil-engaging nger assembly 82 to strike the bottommost inside edge of the rim of coil bore, whereupon the assembly will move toward its retracted inoperative latched position and continue sa so to move as the lifter continues to descend. As soon as the coil-engaging iinger assemblies S2 have become latched, the lifter may be again elevated and the jaws will clear Athe coil ends. The operation is repetitions for the various coils undergoing transportation without necessitating the operator leaving his cab.

In 8 a typical electrical circuit for controlling the operation of lthe sclenoids vfor the' individual leg assemblies 32 and 34 are-designated at S1 and S2 respectively, each assembly including the previously described core 152 and winding 154. The dotted .line rectangle labelled C' represents the cab of 'an overhead crane or other hoist and Within which the operator is stationed. The two solenoid windings 154 are electrically connected in parallel in a normally open circuit including a circuit making and breaking control button B and a source of current supply S. Upon depression of the control button, a circuit will be established from one side of the source S through lead a, the normally unbridged contacts associated with the control button B, leads b, c, winding 154 of the solenoid S1, and leads d and e back to the source S. A similar circuit exists for the solenoid S2 and extends from the source through lead a contacts of the control button B, leads b, f, winding 154 of the solenoid S2, and leads-g and e back to the source S.

The invention is not to be limited to the exact arrangement of parts shown in the accompanying drawings or describedin the-specification as various changes lin the details of construction may be resorted to without'departing from the spirit of the invention. Therefore, only insofar as the invention has particularly been pointed out in the accompanying claims is the same to be limited.

Having thus described the invention what I claim as new `and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a sheet and coil lifter of the character described, a supporting structure having means associ-ated therewith whereby it may be engaged by fan overhead hoist for elevating and transporting purposes, fa pair of leg assemblies mounted on said supporting structure for movement in unison toward and away from each other for load-engaging and load-.releasing purposes respectively, each leg assembly comprising lan elongated frame-like member, a horizontal rock-shaft mounted on said member and extending transversely to the direction of movement, a coil-engaging finger pivotally mounted on said rock-'shaft Vfor 4swinging movement about the yaxis of the latter between an operative position wherein the finger lis projected horizontally lbeyond lthe general confines of the `frame-like member and `an inoperative position wherein the linger assumes .a vertical 'position with-in the conines of the frame-like member, an elongated substantially yflat supporting llange for `a stack of metallic sheets or the Ilike pivotally mounted on said rock-shaft for vswinging movement about the axis of the latter independently of said coil-engaging nger and between an operative position wherein the ange is projected horizontally beyond the general coniines of the frame-like member and an inoperative position' wherein the ange :assumes a vertical position within the confines of the kframe-like member, the effective length of said finger being no greater than the effective width of the supporting ange,'1=atch means ,for releasably holding said coilengaging nger in its inoperative position, latch means for releasably holding said supporting flange in its inoperative position, and means for selectively moving said leg assemblies toward land away yfrom each other.

2. In a sheet and 'coil lifter of the ycharacter described, a supporting structure having means associated therewith whereby it may be engaged by lan overhead hoist for elevatingl and transporting purposes, a pair of leg assemblies mounted on ysaid supporting structure for movement in unison toward and away Vfrom each other for loadengaging tand load-releasing purposes respectively, each leg assembly comprising an elongated `frame-like member, a horizontal rock-shaft mounted on said member and extending transversely to the direction of movement of the member, a coil-engaging linger pivotally mounted on said rock-shaft -for swinging movement :about the axis of lthe latter between an operative position wherein the finger is projected horizontally beyond the gneral confines of the frame-like member and an yinoperative position wherein the finger assumes a vertical position within the lconfines of Ithe frame-like member, an elongated substantially flat supporting flange for a stack of metallic sheets or the like pivotally mounted on said rock-shaft for swinging movement about the axis of the llatter independently `of said coil-engaging finger 'and between an operative position wherein the flange is projectd horizontally beyond the general confines of the frame-like member `and an inoperative position wherein the fianges assumes a. vertical position within `the coniines of the frame-'like member, latch means for releasably holding said coil-engaging finger in its inoperative position, latch means for releasably holding said supporting flange in its inoperative position, said coil-engaging finger being provided with a cam surface thereon which, when the finger is in its horizontally projected position, ris inclined with respect to the frame-like member, said cam surface being adapted to make camming engagement with the adjacent rim portion of a horizontally disposed coil when the two leg lassemblies are disposed in close proximity and in straddling relationship with respect to the opposite ends of such coil to thus cause the coil-engaging finger of each leg assembly to be moved towards its retracted position, and means for selectively moving said leg assemblies toward and away from each other.

3. In a sheet and coil lifter of the character described, a supporting structure having means associated therewith whereby it may be engaged by ian overhead hoist for elevating and transporting purposes, a pair of `oppositely disposed complemental jaws depending `from said supporting structure and pivoted thereto for swinging movements toward and way from each other, each jaw comprising lan elongated vertically disposed lower leg and an upper connecting linkage mechanism including spaced parallel links pivoted to the leg and to the supporting structure for constraining the leg to maintain its vertical disposition during swinging movements of the jaws in either direction, a horizontal rock-shaft carried at the lower end of each leg yand extending transversely to the direction of movement of the latter, .la coil-engaging finger pivotally mounted on said rock-shaft in the 'medial region thereof for swinging movement about the axis of the rock-shaft between -an 7operative position wherein the finger is projected horizontally beyond the general contines of the leg and an inoperative position wherein the finger assumes a vertical position within the contines `of the leg, an elongated substantially flat supporting flange for -a stack of metallic sheets lor the like pivotally mounted on said rock-shaft on each side of said coil-engaging nger for independent swinging movement about the axis of the rock-shaft between an yoperative position wherein the flange is projected horizontally beyond the general confines of the leg Iand an inoperative position wherein the flange assumes a vertical position within the confines of the leg, the effective length of said finger being no greater than the effective width of the supporting flange and means for selectively moving said jaws Itoward land away from each other.

4. In a sheet and coil lifter of the character described, a supporting structure having means associated therewith whereby it may be engaged by an overhead hoist 'for elevating and transporting purposes, a pair of oppositely disposed complementari jaws -depending tfrom said supporting structure and pivoted thereto for swinging movements toward `and away .from each other, each jaw comprising an elongated vertically disposed lower leg and an upper connecting linkage mechanism including spaced parallel links pivoted to the leg and to the supporting structure for constraining the leg to maintain its vertical disposition during swinging movements of the jaws in either direction, a horizontal rock-shaft carried yat the lower end of each leg and extending transversely to the direction of movement of the latter, a coil-engaging finger pivotalily mounted on said rock-shaft ijn the medial region thereof tor swinging movement about the axis of the rock-shaft between an operative position wherein the finger is .projected horizontally beyond the general confines of the leg and an inoperative position wherein the finger assumes a vertical position Within the confines of the leg, yan elongated substantially flat supporting flange `for a stack of metallic sheets or the like pivotally mounted on said rock-shaft on each side 4of said `coil-engaging finger for independent swinging movement labout the `axis of the rock-shaft between `an operative position wherein the flange is projected horizontally beyond the general confines `of the leg and an inoperative position wherein the flange assumes 1a vertical position within the confines of the leg, the effective length of said ringer being no greater than the effective width of the supporting flange, `latch means tor releasably holding said coil-engaging linger in its inoperative position, latch means for Iholding each of said supportin-g flanges in its respective inoperative position, said coil-engaging finger being provided with la cam lsurface thereon which, when the finger is in its horizontally projected position, is inclined with respect to the frame-like member, said cam surface Ibeing adapted to make camming engagement with the adjacent rim portion of la horizontally disposed coil when the two leg assemblies -are disposed in close proximity to and in straddling relationship with respect to the opposite ends of such coil to thus cause the coil-engaging finger of eachleg to be moved toward its retracted position, and means for selectively moving said leg assemblies toward land away from each other.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 637,594 Hett Nov. 21, 1899 2,841,434 Hooker et al. July 1, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 221,893 Great Britain Sept. 25, 1924 

1. IN A SHEET AND COIL LIFTER OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED, A SUPPORTING STRUCTURE HAVING MEANS ASSOCIATED THEREWITH WHEREBY IT MAY BE ENGAGED BY AN OVERHEAD HOIST FOR ELEVATING AND TRANSPORTING PURPOSES, A PAIR OF LEG ASSEMBLIES MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORTING STRUCTURE FOR MOVEMENT IN UNISON TOWARD AND AWAY FROM EACH OTHER FOR LOAD-ENGAGING AND LOAD-RELEASING PURPOSES RESPECTIVELY, EACH LEG ASSEMBLY COMPRISING AN ELONGATED FRAME-LIKE MEMBER, A HORIZONTAL ROCK-SHAFT MOUNTED ON SAID MEMBER AND EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY TO THE DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT, A COIL-ENGAGING FINGER PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID ROCK-SHAFT FOR SWINGING MOVEMENT ABOUT THE AXIS OF THE LATTER BETWEEN AN OPERATIVE POSITION WHEREIN THE FINGER IS PROJECTED HORIZONTALLY BEYOND THE GENERAL CONFINES OF THE FRAME-LIKE MEMBER AND AN INOPERATIVE POSITION WHEREIN THE FINGER ASSUMES A VERTICAL POSITION WITHIN THE CONFINES OF THE FRAME-LIKE MEMBER, AN ELONGATED SUBSTANTIALLY FLAT SUPPORTING FLANGE FOR A STACK OF METALLIC SHEETS OR THE LIKE PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID ROCK-SHAFT FOR SWINGING MOVEMENT ABOUT THE AXIS OF THE LATTER INDEPENDENTLY OF SAID COIL-ENGAGING FINGER AND BETWEEN AN OPERATIVE POSITION WHEREIN THE FLANGE IS PROJECTED HORIZONTALLY BEYOND THE GENERAL CONFINES OF THE FRAME-LIKE MEMBER AND AN INOPERATIVE POSITION WHEREIN THE FLANGE ASSUMES A VERTICAL POSITION WITHIN THE CONFINES OF THE FRAME-LIKE MEMBER, THE EFFECTIVE LENGTH OF SAID FINGER BEING NO GREATER THAN THE EFFECTIVE WIDTH OF THE SUPPORTING FLANGE, LATCH MEANS FOR RELEASABLY HOLDING SAID COILENGAGING FINGER IN ITS INOPERATIVE POSITION, LATCH MEANS FOR RELEASABLY HOLDING SAID SUPPORTING FLANGE IN ITS INOPERATIVE POSITION, AND MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY MOVING SAID LEG ASSEMBLIES TOWARD AND AWAY FROM EACH OTHER. 